The Ultimate Kauai Travel Guide! I put together a Kauai travel guide to help you narrow down what to do in Kauai. These are the best of the best must-see, must-eat, must-do’s while you’re in Kauai!
Ah, Kauai. Some people call it Hawaii, I call it heaven. It is truly one of the most beautiful travel destinations. I’m not sure if it’s the serene, bright blue beaches or the delicious food or the amazing things you can do while you’re there. Or maybe a combination of all three!
I had the pleasure to visit a little over a month ago and I can’t stop dreaming about it. I can’t wait to go back! I wanted to put together a kauai travel guide of sorts to help you narrow down what to do in kauai. These are the best of the best must-see, must-eat, must-do’s while you’re in Kauai!
Where to stay:
The Villas at Poipu Kai
First of all, where you stay is huge. You want a great location close to the beach, shops and restaurants. The Villas at Poipu Kai is the place to go! Staying here is a dream. The rooms are GORGEOUS. I stayed in a suite with three bedrooms and each room had its own bathroom. The bed was the comfiest I’ve ever slept in, which is a huge deal, guys! The views are spectacular. The kitchen was well-stocked and brand new.
The living area was comfortable and get this – there were huge windowed doors that opened all the way to the patio! (See above) So nice to be able to let the Hawaii breeze through the house and sit on the patio with a cool drink. 🙂
Guess what? You can receive 20% off booking in May, September 1- November 15 when you call 1-866-407-0249 and mention “Blog Kauai”
What to do:
Rainbow Kayak Tours down the Wailua River & hiking to Secret Falls
One of the first things we did during our stay in Kauai was going with Rainbow Tours on a five mile kayak trip and a two mile hike. I will admit right now that I am NOT a hiker, nor am I a kayaker. I had only kayaked once in my entire life and it was on one of those kayaks you rent on a lake, so pretty much doesn’t count! I was very nervous, but our guide Thomas helped me and my fellow kayak-mate Stephanie and we ended up getting the hang of it. We only went the wrong way a few times. 😉
After kayaking, we hiked across a river and through a densely tropical area to Secret Falls Waterfall. It was magical! We were able to swim under the waterfall and then ate lunch right next to it. I would recommend wearing tennis shoes you don’t mind getting muddy or wet and wearing your bathing suit under your clothes. Also lots of bug spray!
Holo Holo Charter Tours – Catamaran up Napali Coast & snorkeling at Niihau
Another adventure we went on was with Holo Holo Charters. We sailed on a gorgeous 65 foot catamaran from Kauai to the breathtaking Napali Coast. After sightseeing and hearing the history of the Napali Coast we headed across the channel to the “Forbidden Island” of Niihau to snorkel.
I’ve only snorkeled once before but it was close to the coastline. I was a little nervous because we were far out to sea. But once I was in the water, I didn’t want to get out! It was a magical experience I will never forget. The price is great for what you get – boat ride, snorkeling, food and drinks and the most entertaining staff! This is a must-do in my Kauai Travel Guide!
Where to eat:
Kalakapi Joes
Kalapaki Joe’s is minutes away from Villas at Poipu Kai. It’s the westernmost sports bar in the United States! This was the restaurant that my husband and I dined at the most during our stay. Probably because it felt so casual and fun. They had live music and TV’s playing any and all sports games. Plus the food was amazing. Their ahi poke nachos were incredible! All around, a great atmosphere and delicious food. I highly recommend it if you like the sports bar sort of place!
Keoki’s Paradise
Keoki’s Paradise has a fabulous casual atmosphere with live music and several water features surrounding the restaurant. They serve great appetizers including this Grilled Thai Shrimp. Of course, they are also known for their incredible Hula Pie. WOW the Hula Pie! I can’t even get over it. Please do yourself a favor if you’re in Kauai and visit Keoki’s Paradise for a delicious dinner and a slice of Hula Pie!
Auli’i Luau at the Sheraton Kauai
You will love the food and entertainment of Auli’i Luau! Experience the amazing dancing of the Polynesian culture over the gorgeous backdrop of the Kiahuna Beach. It’s the only beachfront luau in Kauai! The sunset as you’re eating dinner is breathtaking and the food is marvelous. They serve the food buffet style so you can try a little of everything. I loved the Mongolian Beef and ahi poke. The dancers were very entertaining with all sorts of styles of Polynesian dancing, even flame throwing!
Eating House 1849
The atmosphere in The Eating House 1849 is alone worth the trip! The combination of modern decor, fantastic ocean views and delicious eats put this restaurant on the must-go list! I ordered the Butterfish Kamameshi (Hot Pot Rice Bowl) and it was so delightful. The fish was tender and flavorful. The kampachi sashimi, goat cheese mashed potatoes and ribeye steak were delightful. This is a definite stop in my Kauai Travel Guide!
Merriman’s
What a beautiful restaurant with gorgeous views! I loved the open atmosphere of Merriman’s and really enjoyed my dish of Tempura Ono & Kauai Shrimp. The shrimp was especially tasty. Drinks are delicious as well. We gave the chocolate purses a try for dessert but ended up loving the Pineapple Bread Pudding more. 🙂
Hukilau Lanai
I regularly dream about those Adam’s Poke Nachos above. Apparently the recipe for the famous nachos was developed at Hukilau Lanai years ago and has since expanded across the islands in full force. Pretty cool, right? This restaurant was cozy inside but then opened up to a gorgeous covered patio, making it a very romantic setting. Especially when it began to rain lightly while we were eating. Love that! Food and service was fantastic!
Fresh Shave
Fresh Shave may sound like a men’s barber shop. It’s not! The Fresh Shave serves the most incredible shave ice (not to be confused with shaved ice)! Each shave ice is named after a mustache which is pretty adorable if you ask me. 😉 We visited a few times while we were there and I think my favorite was The Imperial off the “secret menu”. Make sure you ask about the secret menu! Really, all the shave ice here are worth trying so be sure to stop by several times if you’re visiting Kauai! This is a must-try on my Kauai travel guide!
I hope you’ve found this Kauai Travel Guide helpful in your travels! Thank you for reading! Special shout out to Rachael from Eazy Peazy Meals & Travelz for putting together such an amazing retreat! #BlogKauai
REMEMBER! You can receive 20% off booking in May, September 1- November 15 when you call 1-866-407-0249 and mention “Blog Kauai”
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